STOOD THE SHOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 147, 21 June 1917, Page 5

STOOD THE SHOCK.

AUSTRALIANS ATTACKED. LONDON, June 10. On Thursday the Germans turned on to our advanced troops all the gun 3 which they withdrew yesterday. They first searched the trenches methodically with heavy howitzer shells, working along them from front to rear and from . flank to flank. About 3 o'clock in the | afternoon numbers of German troops i were seen collecting at various points. ! Our barrage came down on them about ilO minutes later. Three times the GerI man field guns suddenly opened an in- | tense bombardment, the latest being at 9 o'clock, just ibefore dusk. Behind this | the Germans attacked. As far as is at present known this attack extended along the whole front held by the Australians, beyond Messines, reaching the British line to the northwards. The bombardment for a time was terrific, but it has now eased, and news has arrived that the Australians are still holding their advanced line. To-day's bombardment was at the time one of the heaviest ever experienced by Australian troops. Men of all the latest reinforcements showed themselves magnificently equal to the old hands. Stretcherbearers, runners. Lewis gunnersj all exhibited exactly the same spirit. During the height of the bombardment an officer saw a man exposing himself recklessly. "Come down, you fool," he said, "you'll be killed for a certainty." "I cannot, sir," was the reply; "I've a wounded man here, and I cannot leave him." And he brought that wounded man through by some miracle.

EFFICIENCY WINS. AEL GAINS CONSOE-DATED* LONDON, June 13. Reuters correspondent at headquarters wrote this afternoon:—"There has been a comparative lull in the battle of Messineß. Since his futile counterattack yesterday, in which artillery, wreaked havoc among his infantry, as it advanced in the open, the enemy has made no further attempt to retake anjj important positions he had lost. "The prisoners now number considerably over 6,000, and it is certain that many guns and trench mortars have fallen into our hands, which there has not yet been time to collect and count. "Therefore it seems reasonable toi question whether the Huns are in a position, after the terrible hammering they received, to carry out a big attack against us. "Meanwhile we have been very busy, consolidating gains, getting up guns and machine-guns, and making every preparation to ensure the retention of the fruits of our victory. The Pioneers dug in the most praiseworthy way. "In the heat of the June sun the New Zealand sappers, stripped to the waist, and nearly black with grime, yesterday shovelled a communication trench, through the churned-up ground, in which, almost every trace of German trenches and strong posts had been smashed out of existence. "The more I hear about the battle the clearer it becomes that It was successful in the fullest and most complete seiias of the word. Everything seems to have worked precisely as designed, and the victory is no less a tribute to the wonderful efficiency of the staff work which preceded it than to the gallantry of the troops. \ "Except at a little spot in Battle Wood, where the situation is rather obscure momentarily, we attained the whole of our objectives—the long crest of Messines Ridge. Aerial observers report that the enemy appears to be massing reserves in the vicinity of Warneton, Konentze, and the YpresComines Road, but our artillery has the spots well picketed with shrapnel. "Messines was carried in the most dashing manner, regiments fighting i_ the most friendly rivalry. Southern Irishmen did grand work. Many battalions galloped into action in the good old-time fashion. Our casualties are exceptionally light. The weather is all i_ our favour."